We recently purchased a "Patty O Shade" - this is a drape that hangs down from the awning to give extra shade. No instructions came with and we can't seem to fit the drape into the groove on the awning roller. Is there a trick to this?? Our awning is by Carefree. Since the drape is of a rubberized material we don't want to poke holes in it by pushing it into the awning groove with a screwdriver. Any help will be appreciated. THANKs

When we went to put it up the first time, we had trouble getting it in the groove on the awning. DH ran a screwdriver blade through the groove several times. There was a lot of debris in that slot - pine needles, dirt, etc.

After he cleaned the stuff out of the groove, it goes in pretty easily.

Doesn't your awning tube have an opening on one end of the groove? The same hole through which you would insert the hangars for party lights, and so on? You should be able to feed the shade "hanger" strip in from one end and push/pull the material across the the tube to whatever position provides the best shade for the time of day.

I also have the Patty Oh Shade and one end has a kind of wire running through it you just run that into the groove of the awning keep lifting up the awning and have someone pull the other side along. Goes up real easy with 2 people.
Stake the other end down with bungies and good to go.
Good luck

Thanks for the input. Actually after my husband studied the awning roller for a bit he decided to try sliding the shade in with the groove at the bottom (we were trying with the groove sideways). Worked like a charm and we are set to go. Thanks again